STAND. COM. REP. NO. 580-18

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2018

RE: H.B. No. 1984

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Water & Land and Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.B. No. 1984 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO WATER SECURITY,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to protect the State's freshwater supply and address issues affecting the supply of freshwater in Hawaii by:

(1) Requiring the Commission on Water Resource Management to conduct a study on the current state of water resources in the State, potential alternative sources of water, and the future needs of water in the State; and

(2) Appropriating funds for the study.

The Honolulu Board of Water Supply, Hawaiian Civic Club of Honolulu, Ho‘omana Pono, LLC, Big Island Invasive Species Committee, and a concerned individual testified in support of this measure. The Department of Land and Natural Resources provided comments.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Changing amount of funds appropriated for the Commission on Water Resource Management to conduct the study to an unspecified amount; and

(2) Changing its effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Water & Land and Energy & Environmental Protection that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1984, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1984, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Water & Land and Energy & Environmental Protection,

____________________________ CHRIS LEE, Chair

____________________________ RYAN I. YAMANE, Chair